Early Childhood Music Curriculum

Music has been an important component of ICODA’s programs since the day it opened its doors.  Originally the music was used in our children’s theater and the emphasis was placed on finding ways to help deaf and hard of hearing children appreciate, enjoy, and respond to music.  This was done by teaching children to feel the vibration coming from music, to learn to count the rhythm of the dance and to see coordinated lighting and sign language presented in an artistic form.  As time passed our theater staff increased their skills until musical theater became ICODA’s hallmark.  Several years ago articles began to appear in science journals that music used during childhood had the power to impact the brain and assist the child to reach higher levels of skill in Math and Science. New research concerning the impact of music on children who are deaf is indicating that there are significant gains in Language Arts areas.

Northwestern University’s work in this area included the study of deaf children and found music helpful to deaf children using cochlear implants.  These studies interested ICODA and resulted in a survey of achievement being sent to 45 adults who had grown up in ICODA’s Children’s Theater.  One of the many findings indicated that 43% of the group had obtained a masters or doctoral degree compared to 1% of the general deaf population.  This most unusual achievement convinced us that music belongs in the curriculum of all children who are deaf and hard of hearing which gave us the impetus to initiate the development of a curriculum in music starting at birth and continuing to age 8, the early childhood years.  The curriculum will follow the developmental sequence of children’s ability to respond to the musical activity being presented.  Activities which are age appropriate and interactive will be described and the resources available will be listed.  The modifications necessary for deaf children will also be outlined.  Some specialized devices which emphasize the tactile response to vibration and the coordination of lights with the sounds of music will be developed and made available. Currently the first draft of the infant from birth to 2 years is completed.  We will be pilot testing it with some developmental therapists who work with deaf and hard of hearing babies from birth to 3 years of age. 

Articles

Kraus N. (2011) Musical training gives edge in auditory processing. Hearing Journal 10.1097/01.HJ.0000394539.18079.14

Kraus N, Chandrasekaran B. (2010) Music training for the development of auditory skills. Nature Reviews Neuroscience. 11:599-605